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Vayelech / The Woodcutter*
Vayelech / The Woodcutter*
Poetic notes for a meditation on the parashat Vayelech*
Poetic notes for a meditation on the parashat Vayelech*
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil
is cut and chopped
The tree of life remains standing
The two entwined trees shared one root
but did not bear one fruit
Now the tree of knowledge is cut in two
and half of it is fallen
with no life left on the ground but its poison pollen
And the tree of life spreads its root within the earth
and with its leaf enthrals the heavens
With his shadow already ascending
Moses had finished speaking
to one tribe of Israel after the other
Now he spoke one to one to Israel
as at one communal sacrifice
Then wisdom cried aloud in the streets
throughout all the world and all generations
Like a woodcutter
Moses spoke books of light to Israel
cutting off the dark branch of evil from the root
in order that the branch of life
might send out many shoots
Remember the day of death and life
of God's firstborn nation
when absolute justice
and absolute mercy became one
When the time of the Fall
and the time of the Spring
become one day to God
the holy Day of God’s Name
The Master Woodcutter rose up
and the nations were pruned back
The root of Jerusalem
now spreads throughout all the earth
Soon its leaf shall shelter the world
Let Humanity repent its deathly way
Let us stand before our Maker
and have substance
instead of it being better
had we not been made
Let Humanity come to Yom Kippur
to the foot of the holy crown
and say, “I am prepared to be”
God will hear, God will listen
His eye will widen
His tears will glisten
God will ask for His atonement
His atonement song will be sung
in solidarity with His world
an atonement song that a child can sing
and thus embarrass even the moon
Only then will the moon receive eternal light
and thanksgiving joy forevermore
On the eternal Day of God's Name
May Jerusalem as one return to You
with Your holy returning light
May no will be found in her but Yours
May You live fully in her heart!
What then will her economy be?
The making of peace and tranquility
Her wealth will be immeasurable
For there is no peace in Adam's bones
our sins flash in floods of hatred and blood
Our fears consume the life of the world
and our hungers prey on righteousness
Embrace us with Your calm
Cover us with a mother's gentle wings
May the atonement You make for Israel
spread to the most distant stars
May Your atoning love for Jerusalem
raise Adam from the dead
May the woodcutter
who has laid his surgical axe to the root
cut the tongue of evil and all its knowledge
from Jerusalem's children
and make the evil inclination mute
Where did Moses go?
He went to speak to Israel above and below
in order that all the world would know
that the goodness of God is without evil
He went to speak to Elijah and his Messiah
to prepare for the glorious Day of God’s Name
Where did Moses go?
He went to conceal a measure of light
that had come with him into the world
until the hour
when Jerusalem would make herself ready
prepared for light of Yom Kippur
to stand forgiven with her God
to make the nations rage and light their ovens
to make them spin and wobble to and fro
May God strengthen Jerusalem's soul
and help her keep her balance
when the Goliath nations push and pull
Moses covered for her sins
covered a measure of God's final word
to create time and space for Jacob to prepare
for the Day of God's Name
Cover Jerusalem with Your covering, HaShem!
so that no more sin can be found in her
so that the light of your word can break through
Let the nations rage
Let the peoples imagine a vain thing
Let the glory of the light of Your love
cut the cancer from the wood
and from the world's soul
like the Master Woodcutter
cut iniquity from the tree
Resurrect the days that have died
Oh Blessed Holy One
the days that we have polluted and killed
Make all of them be moments
on Your coming Yom Kippur
moments of sorrow turned to joy
joyous days and years with You
performing Your tzedakah
fulfilling Your good pleasure
The days of Jerusalem shall not die
not one shall be buried and forgotten
All of them shall live
All of Jerusalem's days
shall declare to her children
the wondrous deeds of God!
Wash us from our iniquity
in the waters of creation
and from our sins
cleanse us as a newborn people
a nation crossed over from death to life
Let Jerusalem dedicate herself
to You again
that You might open the door
and be at home in Jerusalem
and never be separated from her again
Then we will magnify Your Name in truth
Every letter of Your new tablet
magnified and made great!
Nor shall any shard of Your broken tablet
be forgotten
For we confess our sin and praise You
Your glorious forgiveness
and transcendent mercy are our life!
You are the Master Woodcutter
who has redeemed the tree of life
from the winding vine
of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
And we are Your woodcutter apprentices
You are the Master Water Carrier
who carried the water of the world
that the thirst of its spirit might be quenched
And we are Your apprentice water carriers
Just as You are the servant of Your creation
through Your atonement
Atone for us with Your Day
that we might apprentice as servants
and be as You created us to be
servants in the likeness of God
Let now Rachel's tears
be a river of life and joy
With All Israel
I will rejoice and come alive in You!
With All Israel
I will sing praise to Your Name
on the Day of Your Name
O Most High!
*The reference to a woodcutter is found in the parashah of Nitzavim, but is spiritually carried over into the parashah of Vayelech.
*References and sources:
Deuteronomy 31:1 ; Deuteronomy 29:10; 31:11
Or HaChaim on Deuteronomy 31:1
Rabbeinu Bahya on Deuteronomy 31:1
Ramban on Deuteronomy 29:9,10; 31:1
Where Did Moshe Go? Adapted by Chaim Miller; From the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe
Tishrei - Kedushat Levi, Exodus, Shemot 35
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